The Lake Victoria Fisheries Organization (LVFO), through the Lake Victoria Small Fish (LVSF) Project: Promoting Sustainable Technologies and Marketing Strategies, has reached a significant implementation milestone following the official handover of the Ddimo Landing Site to Ms. All in Trade Limited for the construction of a solar fish dryer.
The site handover ceremony, held on Tuesday, 18 August 2026, formally marked the commencement of construction of the Mukene solar dryer, an intervention designed to improve fish drying and preservation, promote value addition, and strengthen marketing opportunities for Mukene (dagaa) processors and traders in Masaka District.
The LVSF Project is being implemented by LVFO in collaboration with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). One of the project’s key activities is the procurement and installation of three (3) solar dryers at selected fish landing sites in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. The initiative seeks to support up to 3,000 Mukene processors and traders, predominantly women and youth, by providing access to improved fish-processing technologies and marketing strategies that can facilitate entry into higher-value markets.
From Procurement to Implementation
The Ddimo solar dryer initiative has now moved from the procurement phase into physical implementation. To fast-track construction at the Ddimo Landing Site, the procurement process was re-tendered, resulting in the award of the contract to Ms. All in Trade Limited.
Under the awarded contract, the contractor is responsible for the design, build, supply, testing, and commissioning of the solar fish dryer installation at the Ddimo Landing Site.
The official site handover was therefore an important step in enabling the contractor to commence these activities and move the project toward completion and operationalization.
Stakeholders Convene for the Official Handover
The day’s programme began with a courtesy call at the Masaka District Headquarters, before stakeholders proceeded to the Ddimo Landing Site for the official event.
At the landing site, the programme included self-introductions, followed by remarks from the Deputy Executive Secretary of LVFO. The Project Coordinator delivered a presentation outlining the project and its implementation, while the NAFIRRI Focal Person also addressed participants.
The contractor, Ms. All in Trade Limited, gave remarks on the construction assignment, followed by remarks from the Masaka District Local Government leadership and the District Fisheries Officer (DFO).
The programme culminated in the official handover of the Ddimo Landing Site to Ms. All in Trade Limited, formally signalling the beginning of construction of the solar dryer.
Bringing Together Key Fisheries Stakeholders
The ceremony brought together a broad range of stakeholders whose participation is important to the successful implementation and eventual utilization of the solar dryer.
Participants included representatives from:
- Masaka District Local Government leadership
- National fisheries institutions
- Lake Victoria Fisheries Organization (LVFO) Secretariat
- National Fisheries Resources Research Institute (NaFIRRI)
- Beneficiary groups, particularly women and youth associations
The participation of national, district, institutional, and community-level stakeholders demonstrated the collaborative approach underpinning the LVSF Project and its interventions at fish landing sites.
Improving Mukene Processing and Preservation
The solar dryer forms part of the LVSF Project’s broader effort to introduce sustainable technologies and marketing strategies that can improve the livelihoods and market opportunities of Mukene processors and traders.
By supporting improved technologies for fish drying and preservation, the project aims to strengthen the handling and processing of Mukene while creating opportunities for value addition and improved access to higher-value markets.
The intervention is particularly significant because the project is targeting up to 3,000 Mukene processors and traders, with women and youth representing the predominant beneficiary groups. The Ddimo facility will therefore contribute to a wider regional initiative aimed at strengthening the small-fish value chain around Lake Victoria.
A Milestone for the LVSF Project
The Ddimo site handover represents an important milestone in the implementation of the LVSF Project. It marks the transition of the solar dryer initiative from procurement to implementation, allowing Ms. All in Trade Limited to begin construction of the facility that will serve Mukene (dagaa) processors in Masaka District.
Beyond the physical construction of the dryer, the milestone reflects the continued collaboration between LVFO, IFAD, government institutions, fisheries stakeholders, local authorities, and beneficiary communities in advancing sustainable technologies within the Lake Victoria small-fish value chain.
The event concluded with the official handover of the site, bringing together national, district, and community stakeholders around a shared objective of improving technologies and opportunities for Mukene processors and traders.
Looking Ahead
With the official handover completed, Ms. All in Trade Limited can now proceed with the construction phase of the Mukene solar dryer at Ddimo Landing Site.
The project is expected to contribute to the LVSF Project’s objective of promoting improved fish drying and preservation technologies, value addition, and marketing strategies for Mukene processors and traders. The Ddimo intervention also forms part of the wider programme to install three solar dryers at selected landing sites across Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.
The commencement of construction at Ddimo is therefore not only a construction milestone, but also a step toward strengthening the capacity of small-fish processors and traders—particularly women and youth—and supporting their access to better technologies and higher-value markets.
The official handover at Ddimo Landing Site marks the beginning of the next phase: construction, testing, commissioning, and eventual utilization of the Mukene solar dryer for the benefit of the fishing and fish-processing community in Masaka District.
